Top 5 Things To Know Before Touring Your Wedding Venue
CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement! Are you starting to swoon over bridal gowns on Pinterest? Drooling over gorgeous wedding portraits on Instagram? Are you researching the absolute best wedding venues to say “I do” on your big day? Dreaming about your perfect wedding day can be both exciting and a little overwhelming. At Emerson Fields Wedding Venue, we love making sure our couples feel at ease and informed before they step foot inside our venue! Here are our top 5 tips to know before touring your wedding venue!
Wedding Venue Aesthetic
The aesthetics of your wedding venue will be reflected in your overall wedding theme so choose what best fits you; if you’re a country girl at heart, you may want a barn with rustic charm; if you’re all glam, you may opt for an elegant ballroom, or if you’re the eclectic city type, you may lean towards an industrial vibe. There’s also the draw of a clean and white, modern farmhouse-style wedding venue nestled in the Missouri countryside. [*hint hint*Emerson Fields] Missouri is a beautiful Midwestern state full of unique venue options from churches to lakes to ballrooms to barns.
No matter the style of the venue, no matter the season you choose to be married in, there are five crucial questions every couple needs to answer before booking those exciting wedding venue tours. In our experience, we find that couples are better served by answering these few crucial questions before they begin their wedding planning journey.
Here’s what you should know before your wedding venue tour:
What is your expected overall wedding budget?
You probably knew this was coming, but you’ve been too excited to sit down and talk numbers and spreadsheets. You just want to jump in and find a location that can make your wedding Pinterest board a reality. Time to take a breath! It’s time to pause and take a moment to consider the financial side of things. Skipping this crucial step would do both of you a disservice. Before you start touring venues, it's essential to have an open discussion about your wedding budget and what you're comfortable spending.
The average wedding in Missouri lands on the high end of $28K. The national average wedding budget is closer to $33K, but keep in mind, this statistic is just an average. You have to factor in that some of these are micro-weddings, maybe even courthouse weddings, and others are lavishly elegant affairs for 400-500 guests. Sit down and talk with all parties that are helping finance the wedding festivities and have some honest discussions about a spending cap before you fall in love with a space.
Your venue will likely be at the top of the budget priority list since it encompasses so much of your wedding day experience. Keep in mind what amenities the wedding venues you research include like tables, chairs, dressing suites, rental hours, table linens, on-site accommodations, and more. While one venue may seem like a bargain, it also may have additional add-ons or costs associated with renting large items. Likewise, a venue with a higher price tag may include everything you need without additional expenses! Knowing your overall wedding budget is a huge factor in choosing your venue.
“At Emerson Fields, we see couples spend anywhere from $20K-90K on their overall wedding expenses, including the venue rental. We are an “open venue” which allows our couples to select the vendors that fit their overall budget.
We are confidently able to host the ceremony and reception all in one beautiful location, maximizing your décor and rental fees. Large ticket amenities like tables, chairs, specialty tables, catering kitchen, bar space, and more are already included in the rental package!”
2. What is your estimated guest count?
Your wedding guest list should be purposeful. Your wedding day should be celebrated by people that love and support you as a couple. Start a guest list spreadsheet for your rough draft. If you’ve had other siblings get married before you, ask them for their guest list as a starting point. Meet with your fiancé and your family to be sure you haven’t missed any important relatives or friends of the family.
If you want to keep the guest list manageable, ask yourselves these questions:
Have I seen or spoken to this person since I started dating my fiancé?
Will I be sad if this person doesn’t attend?
Have these people encouraged us or been faithful to support us in our relationship?
“Oftentimes, couples book our venue before the engagement even happens. If a specific weekend is important to you, contact us and we can keep it a secret.” - Amelia, Emerson Fields Owner
Go back through your spreadsheet and start making those tough cuts if necessary. “Guesstimate” how many people will attend by subtracting 25% from your total number of guests invited. This may seem like a lot of work upfront but, you don’t want to fall in love with a wedding venue that can’t accommodate your guest list. Narrow the search to a venue that can fit into your wedding budget and comfortably accommodate the number of special people you want to come to your big day.
You’ll want to tour only a select number of venues because time is of the essence. Most venues have weddings each weekend, so you may have to take some time off of work during the week for these tours, so be selective.
“As a venue owner, I usually see around 75% of the invited guests attend the wedding and reception if a bride lives more than 60 miles from the venue. For couples that reside closer to the venue location, it can be upwards of 90% attendance rate. ”
3. What season or date do you have your heart set on?
Choosing the venue is the first piece to the planning puzzle because all of your wedding day decisions will be based on where, and when, you’re having the wedding. You’ll want to find out what available dates a venue has before you set up a tour if possible.
Try to decide what season, or month, you would like to be married so you’ll know if the venue can accommodate your vision. For instance, a spring wedding is often held indoors because of cool temperatures, wind or rain in Missouri. If a spring wedding is what you prefer, make sure the inclement weather options at your venue are agreeable to you before signing on the dotted line.
Sometimes rental pricing in the wedding industry is tied to the seasons, so pay attention if a venue has higher peak season pricing. These will typically be May/June and September/October in Missouri.
It’s best to have a season in mind, and not a specific date, before touring venues. Most wedding venues will be booking 12-24 months in advance and a specific, desired date may not be open. Remember, the best date is YOUR wedding date and the one you will celebrate and cherish forever!
“Most of our winter and early spring weddings are inside the venue on the raised stage with a gorgeous wall of windows as the backdrop.
Summer weddings are often in the open field of native grasses or under the shade of the open-air pavilion. The most favorite fall ceremony spot is on the dock with the lake and autumn colors surrounding the nuptials.
We book popular dates quickly and up to 24 months in advance.”
4. Besides marrying your fiancé, what is most important to you for your wedding?
Choosing just a few major components of your wedding day that mean a lot to you, will ensure you don’t get too caught up in other “shiny things” along the way. Stick to planning a dream wedding day that will include these important elements that matter so much to YOU and let the little things be negotiable.
Maybe one of your non-negotiables is your designer, silhouette-hugging wedding gown that you have always dreamed about. It could be your picturesque, outdoor wedding location, a fine art photographer that delivers timeless images, or a lush, garden-inspired floral bouquet. Whatever is most important to you, work those items in your budget, plan from that point, and don’t feel the pressure to compromise. If a vendor or a venue is one of your non-negotiables, we suggest contacting them first to check for availability.
“We find that couples book with Emerson Fields because one of their non-negotiables is that they have time to savor the celebration in a private and beautiful setting. They love everything being in one location for easy planning and guest experience. Our all-weekend rental is so relaxed and allows couples time to enjoy their family and friends. You don’t want all the months and months of planning to be a whirlwind on your wedding day. ”
Don’t miss point 5… [very important]
5. What should I ask during my wedding venue tour?
Now that you have considered your budget, estimated your guest count and pin-pointed what’s most important to you about your wedding day, it’s time to book some tours! Seeing your venue options in person will really be the determining factor in deciding if the space and location is right for you. Pay close attention to how you feel when you’re in the space and how you feel towards the venue owner/manager. You want a positive experience and someone that is easy to talk to.
Here are some important questions to ask during your tour:
What dates are available? {If you haven’t found this out previously.}
How long will we have access to the venue? How many hours before/after the ceremony are we allowed?
Do you have an approved or recommended vendor list? Are we allowed to use outside vendors? If so, are there any additional charges to do so?
Ask questions about logistics: restrooms, parking, lodging, temperature control, kitchen access, accessible entrances, noise restrictions, décor restrictions, etc.
Make certain there is a backup plan in the event of inclement weather. Is that backup plan a suitable option for you and your guests? Ask for a detailed explanation of what happens in the event of inclement weather.
What is the payment schedule and cancellation policy? Are there any extra fees or minimums?
Jot down any other questions you have for the venue before you go. You don’t want to forget any details that the venue staff shares. You will want your wedding to be as stress-free as possible, so all the work you are doing now is going to pay off.
BONUS: Does the wedding venue offer on-site lodging?
It doesn’t matter if the wedding venue is in your backyard - you or your guests will need somewhere to stay! Check to see if the wedding venue offers any type of on-site lodging for quick access to the venue, a space to relax, and accessible accommodation. Our 14-person lodging, Emerson Suites, is the perfect addition to a wedding rental at Emerson Fields. Whether it is a space for traveling grandparents to rest, a slumber party for the bridesmaids, or space for the in-laws to bunk during the weekend, having on-site accommodations makes a big difference! Be sure to tour these accommodations when you book your venue tour.
Once you’ve toured wedding venues, you can now decide when and where to host your unforgettable wedding day. Make it special. Make it memorable. Make it your own.
No matter where you’re planning your wedding day, our ultimate wedding planning checklist will walk you through the most important tasks leading up to your wedding day. Start your checklist as soon as you get engaged!
“We are thrilled to show couples our gorgeous wedding venue right here in mid-Missouri. Expect a tour to last between 45 minutes to one hour, depending on how many questions you want to ask. We will show you all the ceremony site locations, our all-weather reception space, and our spacious on-site lodging. There are so many aspects of our estate for you to use that set our venue apart from the rest. With no hidden fees and clear pricing, you will know exactly what to expect at Emerson Fields. We can’t wait to meet you and help you create the wedding of your dreams. ”
These amazing photos are from these talented wedding photographers: Trent Broglin Photography, Kelsi Klietheremes Photography, Kristen Hendricks Photo, Bailey Pianalto Photography, Sheara Jennings Photography and, Haylie Ogalat Photography, Kristen Pulido Photography, McDonald Video and Photography, and Hillary & Grant Photography.
03/23/2024 - Gabrielle Isom
